On, Monday, November 25, the City of Trenton’s Recreation Department hosted its 5th Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway in partnership with the Mercer Street Friends and Kapitol City Nupes/Trenton Kappa Foundation. Starting at 2:00 pm, one free turkey between 12-15 pounds was distributed to families at Cadwalader Park’s blacktop area. All turkeys were packed in insolated tote bags courtesy of the Trenton’s Recreation Department. In addition to the Recreation staff and the Kapitol City Nupes/Trenton Kappa Foundation, Mayor Reed Gusciora, USOA’s Mrs. New Jersey Diana Meyer, and Trenton Thunder mascot Boomer also helped hand out turkeys.
After receiving turkeys, those in attendance at Cadwalader Park were also given free hot chocolate from Signal 22, entertained with music from Dj Wallah, and kids were encouraged to play in the bounce houses. 1,612 turkeys were handed out at Cadwalader with 102 of those being donated from the Kapitol City Nupes/Trenton Kappa Foundation.
“I am incredibly proud to see the success of our 5th Annual Turkey Giveaway in the City of Trenton. This event holds special significance during the holiday season, as it embodies the spirit of our community coming together to ensure that no family, regardless of their situation, goes without a warm meal,” said Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “I am grateful to the Recreation Department, our dedicated community partners, and the countless volunteers who made this event possible. Through our collective efforts, we are not just helping families in need—we are strengthening the bonds that make Trenton a truly compassionate city.”
“I want to express my gratitude to Mayor Gusciora, Interim Director Paul Harris, and his dedicated team for their unwavering commitment to making sure that this event is accessible for all Trentonians. This giveaway is a celebration of our community, it represents a time for all of us to come together and embrace the holiday spirit,” said East Ward Councilman Joseph Harrison.
“The 5th Annual Turkey Giveaway reflects the heart of our community and our city’s dedication to our community and residents. We want everyone to recognize that the strength of our city lies in our ability to support one another, especially during the holiday season. I want to thank the Mayor, City Council, and our partners for their support in making this event possible,” said Interim Recreation Director Paul Harris.
To help spread the turkeys city-wide, 1,200 were taken to Unity Park in the City’s South ward where they were distributed to the community. An additional, 100 turkeys were taken to the senior centers, 140 to the recreation centers, and 50 were given to City Council. In total 3,102 turkeys were handed out.